The 1961 Barolo from Giovanni Conterno is a great wine and will make no one pine for Monfortino when this natural beauty is in the glass. I have been fortunate to drink this vintage of Conterno Barolo with some frequency over the years, and this most recent bottle was everything one could have asked for in a perfectly mature, superb Barolo, though this bottle was more black fruity than the last couple I have drunk. The bouquet here is a deep, complex and meaty blend of dark berries, black cherries, beef broth, bonfires, roasted venison, fennel seed, nutskins and forest floor. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and à point, with a fine core, moderate tannins and excellent length and grip on the focused and robust finish. The more red fruity and pure bottles of this I have had over the years are more my paradigm for this wine, but this particular bottle still delivered plenty of pleasure. (Drink between 2011-2030). Font: John Gilman